By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday April 11, 2024
For Casper Ruud, the 2024 clay-court season is all in regards to the perspective.
The Norwegian has already carved out an enviable profession on the floor, which incorporates two Roland-Garros finals, 9 ATP titles, and 125 wins in opposition to simply 46 losses, however now that he’s 25, and with so many constructive experiences beneath his belt, Ruud is aiming for greater and higher.
That every one begins, says Ruud, with professionalism and consistency.
“I’m on the lookout for extra regular outcomes,” he stated on Thursday after defeating Hubert Hurkacz, 6-4, 6-2 . “I instructed myself that I wish to attain the quarterfinal or higher each time I present as much as a match on the clay – that is form of the primary aim for the clay season. “If that is, 5, six quarterfinals in a row, I am going to take it however after all you need to go even deeper.”
Man on a mission 🔥
Casper Ruud will get the entry to his twelfth profession Masters QF as he ends Hubert Hurkacz’s successful streak and improves to 2-1 within the head-to-head in opposition to him
6-4 6-2
He’s 5-0 within the earlier Masters QFs performed on clay pic.twitter.com/3wyIxkKgw5
— Mario Boccardi (@marioboc17) April 11, 2024
Ruud says he’s getting into this stage of his profession with a special perspective. He needs to be extra assertive on the court docket – and he is aware of he has the sport to try this.
Not that he hasn’t already — Ruud leads all ATP gamers in clay court docket wins (96), finals (13) and titles (9) for the reason that begin of the 2020 season.
“I’ve form of set that as a bit of minimal to attempt to are available with a special mentality this yr and anticipate a bit of bit extra for myself,” he stated. “I’ve had just a few good outcomes up to now on clay, clearly Roland-Garros twice in a row with a very nice consequence, that offers me confidence to say this stuff that I’m going to attempt to do properly in each clay match.
“Generally you need to say sure issues, that you just consider in your self, and I’ve gained a whole lot of self-belief after just a few leads to my profession already. I am getting older and there are extra younger guys coming.”
Now that he’s one of many veterans on tour, the Tenth-ranked Norwegian is aware of he has to face up and defend his territory. For him, all of it begins on the purple clay.
“I turned 25, just a few months in the past and I stated: ‘It is time to form of develop up. You are an grownup. Now you are a grown man, and you need to present as much as each match, believing extra in your self and coming with perhaps a bit of bit totally different perspective,’” Ruud stated. “So I am attempting [to do that] that this clay-court season.”